Having recently opened her first store outside of Texas — in Nashville — Houston's handbag queen is aiming for the Big Apple with a prime New York location. She has signed a lease for a 1,500-square-foot store on Madison Avenue at East 82nd Street in the heart of Manhattan's Upper East Side.

The expansion to New York is part of an ambitious plan to open 50 retail locations in five years.

The boutique, located in a historic apartment that has never before been a retail store, is across the street from jeweler Alexis Bittar and next to homeware designer Jonathan Adler.

Superstorm Sandy delayed build-out of the new space, but Turner says she hopes to open the store by the end of February.

The store will feature the full range of Elaine Turner products, plus a new shoe collection.

The expansion to New York is part of an ambitious plan to open 50 retail locations in five years. Turner currently has five stand-alone stores, including stores in Houston and San Antonio and a new location at Market Street in The Woodlands.